eggplant

eggplant
/eg"plant', -plahnt'/, n.
1. a plant, Solanum melongena esculentum, of the nightshade family, cultivated for its edible, dark-purple or occasionally white or yellow fruit.
2. the fruit of this plant used as a table vegetable.
3. a blackish purple color; aubergine.
[1760-70; EGG1 + PLANT]

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Tender perennial plant (Solanum melongena) of the nightshade family.

It requires a warm climate and is grown extensively in eastern and southern Asia (where it is native) and in the U.S. It is usually grown as an annual for its fleshy fruit. It has an erect, bushy stem; large ovate, slightly lobed leaves; and pendant, violet, solitary flowers. The fruit is a large, glossy, egg-shaped berry, varying in colour from dark purple to red, yellowish, or white, and sometimes striped. It is a staple in cuisines of the Mediterranean region.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena).

Ingmar Holmasen

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▪ plant
also called  Aubergine, or Guinea Squash 

      (Solanum melongena), tender perennial plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), closely related to the potato. Eggplant requires a warm climate and is grown extensively in eastern and southern Asia and in the United States. It is native to southern and eastern Asia, where it has been cultivated since remote antiquity for its fleshy fruit. For this purpose it is usually grown as an annual. It has an erect, bushy stem, sometimes armed with a few spines; large ovate, slightly lobed leaves; and pendant, violet, characteristically solitary flowers, approximately two inches across. The fruit is a large, egg-shaped berry, varying in colour from dark purple to red, yellowish, or white (the colour and shape of the white variety is the source of the common name); it is sometimes striped and has a glossy surface.

      A staple in cuisines of the Mediterranean region, the eggplant figures prominently in such classic dishes as the Greek moussaka, Italian eggplant parmigiana, and the Middle Eastern relish baba ganoush. It is also frequently served as a baked, grilled, fried, or boiled vegetable and is used as a garnish and in stews.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • eggplant — egg plant , egg plant egg plant, n. 1. (Bot.) A plant ({Solanum Melongena}), of East Indian origin, allied to the tomato, and bearing a large, glossy, edible fruit, shaped somewhat like an egg; mad apple. It is widely cultivated for its fruit,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • eggplant — 1767, from EGG (Cf. egg) (n.) + PLANT (Cf. plant) (n.). Originally of the white variety. Cf. AUBERGINE (Cf. aubergine) …   Etymology dictionary

  • eggplant — [eg′plant΄] n. 1. a perennial plant (Solanum melongena) of the nightshade family, with large, ovoid, usually purple skinned fruits that are eaten as a vegetable 2. the fruit …   English World dictionary

  • Eggplant — Aubergine and Melongene redirect here. For the color, see Eggplant (color). Eggplant / Aubergine / Melongene / Brinjal Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • eggplant — paprastasis baklažanas statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Bulvinių šeimos daržovinis, vaistinis nuodingas kultūrinis augalas (Solanum melongena), kilęs iš Azijos. atitikmenys: lot. Solanum melongena angl. aubergine; brinjal eggplant; brinjall; …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • eggplant — UK [ˈeɡˌplɑːnt] / US [ˈeɡˌplænt] noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms eggplant : singular eggplant plural eggplants American an aubergine …   English dictionary

  • eggplant — noun Date: 1767 1. a. a widely cultivated perennial Asian herb (Solanum melongena) of the nightshade family yielding edible fruit b. the usually smooth ovoid typically blackish purple or white fruit of the eggplant 2. a dark grayish or blackish… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • eggplant — noun a) Solanum melongena Why am I not surprised? This was the limit. You know, Im black enough for his family to yell eggplant this and nigger that at me, she said. b) Aubergine, the edible fruit of the Solanum melongena. Syn: aubergine, brinjal …   Wiktionary

  • eggplant — [[t]e̱gplɑːnt, plænt[/t]] eggplants N VAR An eggplant is a vegetable with a smooth, dark purple skin. [AM] (in BRIT, use aubergine) …   English dictionary

  • eggplant — n. plant of East Indian origin that bears an edible fruit; dark purple egg shaped fruit of the eggplant (eaten as a vegetable); dark purple color …   English contemporary dictionary

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